St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-22
AMERICAN GIRLS IN ENGL AND
a Somewhat Cynical Apology for
the British Maiden's Total
EcliDse

Eclipse.
The Lady Mauds and the Lady
Beatrices are sore at finding themselves
Outshone in the highest circles by Amer
lean chitS who, before coming abroad,
were just ordinary misses in small pro-
vincial towns in the United States. 1t
is hard case to be thrust in the shade
by these fair invaders. But soreness
about it will only spoil good looks.
Why not rather learn the art of war from
the invading bellies who were not reared
in hot houses. but in public free schools?
In great degree they have conquered
because they are in the habit of think
ing themselves as good as no matter
whom, and of not being shamefaced i'll
the presence of mortals of uppermost
rank, says Labouchere in London
Truth.
l don't think it occurs to the Mauds
and BeatriceS that very few uppermOst
perSOnageS, in no matter what country,
have, or can have. much converse
ton. Having had allowances from
their cradles upwards, there is no
strenuous effort in their lives. And so
that intensity of thought, feeling and
will which makes man a man., and
SublimateS woman, is wanting i'll them.
Etiquette throws on them the Onus OF
starting subjects of conversation. Hay-
ing to talk de haut EN- baS, there is no
quick interchange of ideas. As it was
800 years ago so it is now. Their lives
being fiat, they must fall back on BUT
foOnery-a reason why Schneider's
dressing-room at Les Varieties.
was lie Passage DIES Princes"
License of speech is sure
to be granted to any one whose
talk tickleS or is droll. There are few
can so converse. But the United State S
free schools produce them in thousands.
Originality in America is not confined
to the monumental sex. The cOndi-
lions of life are so different there from
what they are in England, and there is
such emancipation from can't in
most of the forms in which it tyrannizes
us that the beauty from Ohio, Illinois,
or Delaware is startlingly novel, and
whatever piquancy there is in her talk
comes home with double force.
There are such heaps of Miss Jenny
Chamberlains in the United States that
hardly any one notices their points.
Americans are astounded at the effect
they produce on English nOblemen
when they come out at the Riviera or in
London. As to the etiquette Invented
by lord chamberlainS those flowers
from over the Atlantic are in happy lg-
nOrance. So they start topics In col
loquieS with royal personages instead
of waiting for them to be started, and,
when they find they please, they go ahead
The personageS are not bored with hear
ing Sir" or Madame" or "Your
Royal Highness," used as commas are
i'm the conversation of ordinary persons.
Then the young and fair Americans
neglect no advantage which is derived
from attention to personal appearance.
They know how to dress, and they
grudge 10 money that they can give to
the best centists. Being in the habit of
dancing from infancy, their gestures
are easy and not angular, and they al
ways talk distinctly, and, if sometimes
with slight twang, i'll an audible voice.
Our girls often humble or run on in
a chirruping jabber that really is not
speech. They, too, often deal in set
phrases which get soon exhausted.
/ think when British girl is nice she's
the incest of any and many more than
there are could be charming if they
could only learn how to speak, and to
move about in an easy, graceful way.
The American girl has neat features,
delicate skin, and fine, nervous SyS-
TEN. But in the rest of the OrganiZa-
ton nature has been wanting in gener-
OSity. The Western woman or girl is
finer human being than the Eastern. In
the Southern states WOmanh0od is near
est to perfection. Women there are
reposeful-nOt precisely amusing, but
intelligent, sweet and interesting.